Strength and Unity in Times of Trouble

The Harry Potter series taught a lot of us all we know about good and evil and that, while evil may seem too powerful to overcome at times, good always triumphs over evil. While Harry goes through experiences worse than many of us can imagine, Dumbledore, James, Hagrid, and many other characters remind Harry (and us) that it is possible to overcome what is wrong, if we stick together and choose what is right over what is easy. In the face of terror, death, and hardship, Harry and his friends, even went they were afraid, refused to back down. As we live in a world where violence is common place, Harry learns lessons that are relevant not only in the Potter universe but in the real world as well. These are my favorite quotes that remind us all of that.

Lord Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.” – Dumbledore (GoF)

Dumbledore is a great uniter in the series. When Cedric’s death threatened to split Hogwarts in two, Dumbledore was there to remind us all that there is nothing more powerful than the bonds we form with others – across cultures and political and religious divisions, we can work together toward peace.
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You’ll stay with me?” “Until the very end.” – Harry and James (DH)

Perhaps one of the most important things the series taught us is that enduring love between family and friends is stronger than death. Even when it seems like we are alone, and as Sirius says in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, the ones who love us never truly leave us.
james potter

Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.” – Kingsley Shacklebolt (DH)

It can be easy to write off those tragedies that don’t directly touch our lives, to change the channel, to forget about what’s happening around the world. But Kingsley so simply and beautifully says what it means to be human: to value all lives, regardless of race or religion or anything else that may divide our world.
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What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll be there when it does.” – Hagrid (GoF)

While we know that one day, all will be well, it’s also true that we cannot simply turn off suffering or end violence with a blog post like this one. What we can do, as Hagrid says, is be there. For each other, for our world, with kind words and prayers and humanitarianism. We might not be able to end wars, but we can stand by each other when it seems easier to run away.
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And when all else fails, remember Ron’s letter to Harry in Prisoner of Azkaban:

Don’t let the Muggles get you down.
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